ClipArt ETC
Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

Butterfly

Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

Grubs are hatchlings of butterflies.

Grub

Grubs are hatchlings of butterflies.

Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

Butterfly

Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

Butterfly

Unlike moths, butterflies have knobs at the tips of their antennae.

The hawk moth is well known by its habit of poising like a humming bird over the flower from which it is extracting the nectar by means of its long sucking tube.

Hawk Moth

The hawk moth is well known by its habit of poising like a humming bird over the flower from which it…

The hawk moth is well known by its habit of poising like a humming bird over the flower from which it is extracting the nectar by means of its long sucking tube. This is a larva.

Hawk Moth

The hawk moth is well known by its habit of poising like a humming bird over the flower from which it…

The hawk moth is well known by its habit of poising like a humming bird over the flower from which it is extracting the nectar by means of its long sucking tube. This is a pupa.

Hawk Moth

The hawk moth is well known by its habit of poising like a humming bird over the flower from which it…

Silkworms are the larvae of moths that spin silken cocoons.

Silkworm

Silkworms are the larvae of moths that spin silken cocoons.

Silkworms are the larvae of moths that spin silken cocoons.

Silkworm

Silkworms are the larvae of moths that spin silken cocoons.

Moths have generally shorter , hairier bodies than butterflies.

Moth

Moths have generally shorter , hairier bodies than butterflies.

"A genus of moths belonging to the family Zygænidæ, founded by clemens in 1862.They are small and delicate and of somber colors."-Whitney, 1902

Acoloithus

"A genus of moths belonging to the family Zygænidæ, founded by clemens in 1862.They are…

"A genus of moths, family Bombycidæ, established by Hubner in 1816."-Whitney, 1902

Maple-Worm

"A genus of moths, family Bombycidæ, established by Hubner in 1816."-Whitney, 1902

"This term is derived from the Greek <em>lepis</em>, a scale, and <em>ptera</em>, wings, and refers to the scales on the wings of moths and butterflies, those insects constituting the order." &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Lepidoptera

"This term is derived from the Greek lepis, a scale, and ptera, wings, and refers…

"A considerable number of insects belonging to Sphingina have transparents wings. Among them is the humming-bird moth, <em>Sesia pelasgus</em>, often seen at evening in our gardens during the moths of June and July hovering like a humming-bird over the flowers and sucking their nectar with its long tube." &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Hummingbird Moth

"A considerable number of insects belonging to Sphingina have transparents wings. Among them is the…

"Among the larger and more splendid moths of our own country is the Luna Moth, or Green Emperor Moth, <em>attacus luna</em> a large and beautiful species, common in the Northern United States. The wings, which are drawn out into what appears like a long tail, are of a light yellowish-green color, marked with eye-spots near the middle. The expanse of the wings is four inches. The caterpilar lives on walnut-trees, and spins a cocoon of which silk might be made. Many of these cocoons may be picked up on the ground, in autumn or spring, beneath the trees frequented by these insect." &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Chrysalis of the Luna Moth

"Among the larger and more splendid moths of our own country is the Luna Moth, or Green Emperor Moth,…

"Among the larger and more splendid moths of our own country is the Luna Moth, or Green Emperor Moth, <em>attacus luna</em> a large and beautiful species, common in the Northern United States. The wings, which are drawn out into what appears like a long tail, are of a light yellowish-green color, marked with eye-spots near the middle. The expanse of the wings is four inches. The caterpilar lives on walnut-trees, and spins a cocoon of which silk might be made. Many of these cocoons may be picked up on the ground, in autumn or spring, beneath the trees frequented by these insect." &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Luna Moth

"Among the larger and more splendid moths of our own country is the Luna Moth, or Green Emperor Moth,…

"Among the larger and more splendid moths of our own country is the Luna Moth, or Green Emperor Moth, <em>attacus luna</em> a large and beautiful species, common in the Northern United States. The wings, which are drawn out into what appears like a long tail, are of a light yellowish-green color, marked with eye-spots near the middle. The expanse of the wings is four inches. The caterpilar lives on walnut-trees, and spins a cocoon of which silk might be made. Many of these cocoons may be picked up on the ground, in autumn or spring, beneath the trees frequented by these insect." &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Caterpillar of the Luna Moth

"Among the larger and more splendid moths of our own country is the Luna Moth, or Green Emperor Moth,…

"Hawk Moth is a family of the lepidopterous insects, forming along with the clear winged moths and the burnets and foresters the tribe Spinghinges. They are insects generally of rapid flight, and fly about in the twilight; Some species also during the day. Their caterpillars are sixteen-legged, flat, smooth, often green, with transverse stripes on the sides and nearly always a horn on the back of the second last segment. One of the most remarkable hawk moths is the Death's-head. It sometimes measures nearly 6 inches across the wings."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Hawk Moth

"Hawk Moth is a family of the lepidopterous insects, forming along with the clear winged moths and the…

"Silk is the peculiar glossy thread spun by the caterpillars or larvae of species of moths, and a well-known kind of fabric manufactured from it."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Silkworm

"Silk is the peculiar glossy thread spun by the caterpillars or larvae of species of moths, and a well-known…

Cidaria, a genus of moths characterized by having oblique bands with acute angles across the front wings.

Carpet Moth

Cidaria, a genus of moths characterized by having oblique bands with acute angles across the front wings.

A name to many common moths that are destructive to woolen fabrics, feathers, and furs.

Cloth Moth

A name to many common moths that are destructive to woolen fabrics, feathers, and furs.

"These are wasplike moths of brilliant colors and have transparent wings. They generally fly by day." &mdash; Davison, 1906

Clear-Winged Moth

"These are wasplike moths of brilliant colors and have transparent wings. They generally fly by day."…

"The Sphingina or Sphinx Moths, so callled from the curious havit which the larva have of raising the anterior segments of their bodies, and remaining motionless in this position for hours, thus bearing a fanciful resemblace to the fabled Sphinx, are for the most part crepuscular and day-flying." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Sphinx Moth

"The Sphingina or Sphinx Moths, so callled from the curious havit which the larva have of raising the…

"The Sphingina or Sphinx Moths, so callled from the curious havit which the larva have of raising the anterior segments of their bodies, and remaining motionless in this position for hours, thus bearing a fanciful resemblace to the fabled Sphinx, are for the most part crepuscular and day-flying." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Sphinx Moth

"The Sphingina or Sphinx Moths, so callled from the curious havit which the larva have of raising the…

"Clear-winged moths, Sesiidae, day-fliers, and looking more like bees, wasps, and ichneumons which they are supposed to imitate." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Sesiidae

"Clear-winged moths, Sesiidae, day-fliers, and looking more like bees, wasps, and ichneumons which they…

"Nocturnal moths, with the organs of the mouth in many cases so atrophied as to be unfit for use. These live but a few days, during which the male sees the female and the latter deposits her eggs." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Bombycina

"Nocturnal moths, with the organs of the mouth in many cases so atrophied as to be unfit for use. These…

"Nocturnal moths, with the organs of the mouth in many cases so atrophied as to be unfit for use. These live but a few days, during which the male sees the female and the latter deposits her eggs." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Bombycina

"Nocturnal moths, with the organs of the mouth in many cases so atrophied as to be unfit for use. These…

"Nocturnal moths, with the organs of the mouth in many cases so atrophied as to be unfit for use. These live but a few days, during which the male sees the female and the latter deposits her eggs." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Bombycina

"Nocturnal moths, with the organs of the mouth in many cases so atrophied as to be unfit for use. These…

"Nocturnal moths, with the organs of the mouth in many cases so atrophied as to be unfit for use. These live but a few days, during which the male sees the female and the latter deposits her eggs." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Bombycina

"Nocturnal moths, with the organs of the mouth in many cases so atrophied as to be unfit for use. These…

"The Noctuina form an eceedingly large group of nocturnal moths, although even here there are a few exceptional instances of day-flying species. They are distinguished by their stout bodies and narrow forewings, under which when reposing they conceal the inferior and in many cases more brightly-colored pair. The majority of the species are small and dull in their colors, while a few are among the largest of known insects." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Noctuina

"The Noctuina form an eceedingly large group of nocturnal moths, although even here there are a few…

"The Noctuina form an eceedingly large group of nocturnal moths, although even here there are a few exceptional instances of day-flying species. They are distinguished by their stout bodies and narrow forewings, under which when reposing they conceal the inferior and in many cases more brightly-colored pair. The majority of the species are small and dull in their colors, while a few are among the largest of known insects." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Noctuina

"The Noctuina form an eceedingly large group of nocturnal moths, although even here there are a few…

"The Geometrina in the larval condition have only four prolegs, the usual number being ten, and in moving these are brought close up to the last pair of thoracic limbs, thus giving the caterpillar a looped appearance, hence the term "loopers" usually applied to these moths; they then hold on by the prolegs, and releasing those in front carry the body forward until the arched appearance is gone. They thus move by an alternate process of looping and straightening their bodies. The larva of Geometers have also the curious havit of fixing themselves by their hind feet to the branch of a shrub, throwing the remainder of their bodies out, and remaining motionless in this position for hours, thus exhibiting an enormous amount of muscular energy." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Geometrina

"The Geometrina in the larval condition have only four prolegs, the usual number being ten, and in moving…

"The Geometrina in the larval condition have only four prolegs, the usual number being ten, and in moving these are brought close up to the last pair of thoracic limbs, thus giving the caterpillar a looped appearance, hence the term "loopers" usually applied to these moths; they then hold on by the prolegs, and releasing those in front carry the body forward until the arched appearance is gone. They thus move by an alternate process of looping and straightening their bodies. The larva of Geometers have also the curious havit of fixing themselves by their hind feet to the branch of a shrub, throwing the remainder of their bodies out, and remaining motionless in this position for hours, thus exhibiting an enormous amount of muscular energy." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Geometrina

"The Geometrina in the larval condition have only four prolegs, the usual number being ten, and in moving…

"The Pyralidina are a group of small moths readily distinguished by their long slender bodies and large forewings. One of these, Pyralis vitis, is very destructive to vines, and another, Pyralis farinalis, feeds upon meal and flour. The Galleridae, a family of Pyralidine moths, deposit their eggs in the hives of bees, where the caterpillars, enclosed in silken cases, devour the wax; but the Hydrocampidae, which also belong to this section, are probably the most wonderful of all Lepidopterous insects, their larva being aquatic, living and feeding in the water, and many of them beathing by gills similar to those of caddisworms." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Pyralidina

"The Pyralidina are a group of small moths readily distinguished by their long slender bodies and large…

"The Pyralidina are a group of small moths readily distinguished by their long slender bodies and large forewings. One of these, Pyralis vitis, is very destructive to vines, and another, Pyralis farinalis, feeds upon meal and flour. The Galleridae, a family of Pyralidine moths, deposit their eggs in the hives of bees, where the caterpillars, enclosed in silken cases, devour the wax; but the Hydrocampidae, which also belong to this section, are probably the most wonderful of all Lepidopterous insects, their larva being aquatic, living and feeding in the water, and many of them beathing by gills similar to those of caddisworms." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Pyralidina

"The Pyralidina are a group of small moths readily distinguished by their long slender bodies and large…

"The Pyralidina are a group of small moths readily distinguished by their long slender bodies and large forewings. One of these, Pyralis vitis, is very destructive to vines, and another, Pyralis farinalis, feeds upon meal and flour. The Galleridae, a family of Pyralidine moths, deposit their eggs in the hives of bees, where the caterpillars, enclosed in silken cases, devour the wax; but the Hydrocampidae, which also belong to this section, are probably the most wonderful of all Lepidopterous insects, their larva being aquatic, living and feeding in the water, and many of them beathing by gills similar to those of caddisworms." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Pyralidina

"The Pyralidina are a group of small moths readily distinguished by their long slender bodies and large…

"The Pyralidina are a group of small moths readily distinguished by their long slender bodies and large forewings. One of these, Pyralis vitis, is very destructive to vines, and another, Pyralis farinalis, feeds upon meal and flour. The Galleridae, a family of Pyralidine moths, deposit their eggs in the hives of bees, where the caterpillars, enclosed in silken cases, devour the wax; but the Hydrocampidae, which also belong to this section, are probably the most wonderful of all Lepidopterous insects, their larva being aquatic, living and feeding in the water, and many of them beathing by gills similar to those of caddisworms." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Pyralidina

"The Pyralidina are a group of small moths readily distinguished by their long slender bodies and large…

"The Pyralidina are a group of small moths readily distinguished by their long slender bodies and large forewings. One of these, Pyralis vitis, is very destructive to vines, and another, Pyralis farinalis, feeds upon meal and flour. The Galleridae, a family of Pyralidine moths, deposit their eggs in the hives of bees, where the caterpillars, enclosed in silken cases, devour the wax; but the Hydrocampidae, which also belong to this section, are probably the most wonderful of all Lepidopterous insects, their larva being aquatic, living and feeding in the water, and many of them beathing by gills similar to those of caddisworms." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Pyralidina

"The Pyralidina are a group of small moths readily distinguished by their long slender bodies and large…

"The Tortricina include a great number of small moths exceedingly injurious to orchard and other trees. They are known as "leaf-rollers" from the habit which most of their larva have of rolling up the leaves on which they feed, and thus forming a shelter for themselves. The Green Tortrix occurs in the larva state on the oak, to which it often does great injurt by stripping the trees of their leaves in the month of June. Throughout Southern Europe the vine is liable to the ravages of another species, Aenectra pillariana, while few of our fruit trees are exempt from the occasional attacks of some species or other of the Carpocapsidae, the fruit-eating family of this group." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Tortricina

"The Tortricina include a great number of small moths exceedingly injurious to orchard and other trees.…

"The Tineina contain the smallest of the Lepidoptera, and are best known as clothes moths. These clothe themselves at our expense in the warmest woollen garments, which they traverse in all directions, leaving behind a gnawed and worn-out path, so thin and bare as to yield to the slightest pressure. They also destroy furs, hair, feathers, and many other articles of domestic economy, and are the exterminating pests of zoological museums. To them we no doubt owe the destruction of the most perfect specimen of the Dodo known, which was once preserved in the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Tineina

"The Tineina contain the smallest of the Lepidoptera, and are best known as clothes moths. These clothe…

"The Tineina contain the smallest of the Lepidoptera, and are best known as clothes moths. These clothe themselves at our expense in the warmest woollen garments, which they traverse in all directions, leaving behind a gnawed and worn-out path, so thin and bare as to yield to the slightest pressure. They also destroy furs, hair, feathers, and many other articles of domestic economy, and are the exterminating pests of zoological museums. To them we no doubt owe the destruction of the most perfect specimen of the Dodo known, which was once preserved in the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Tineina

"The Tineina contain the smallest of the Lepidoptera, and are best known as clothes moths. These clothe…

"The Tineina contain the smallest of the Lepidoptera, and are best known as clothes moths. These clothe themselves at our expense in the warmest woollen garments, which they traverse in all directions, leaving behind a gnawed and worn-out path, so thin and bare as to yield to the slightest pressure. They also destroy furs, hair, feathers, and many other articles of domestic economy, and are the exterminating pests of zoological museums. To them we no doubt owe the destruction of the most perfect specimen of the Dodo known, which was once preserved in the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britanica; 1893

Tineina

"The Tineina contain the smallest of the Lepidoptera, and are best known as clothes moths. These clothe…

"Of the two forms of pitcher in this genus the larger and ordinary form, that of the adult plant, is somewhat twisted, and instead of a lid has a large inflated hood overarching the small mouth. A large bilobed nectariferous and brightly colored expansion hangs down from this, and attracts insects, particularly moths. As in Sarracenia, the plant seems merely to absorb the products of their putrefaction." &mdash; The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Darlingtonia

"Of the two forms of pitcher in this genus the larger and ordinary form, that of the adult plant, is…

A bat with long ears. Commonly lives and hunts in the woodland and eats moths.

Long Eared Bat

A bat with long ears. Commonly lives and hunts in the woodland and eats moths.

From the well known nocturnal habits of moths, and the certainty of their being destroyed by a light, a cheap and effective mode of destroying them, shown in the annexed figure. It consists of a pan of viscid matter placed upon a stake, which is set in the field of cotton at suitable distances. A block of wood is placed in the center of the pan, upon which is placed a lighted glass lantern. The moths, being attracted by the light, dash against it and fall into the pan, and are thus destroyed before depositing their eggs upon the tender leaves of the growing plant.

Moth Lantern

From the well known nocturnal habits of moths, and the certainty of their being destroyed by a light,…

Aletia argillacea with wings expanded.

Owlet Moth

Aletia argillacea with wings expanded.

Aletia argillacea at rest.

Owlet Moth

Aletia argillacea at rest.

Representation of the scaly legs of the Gipsy moth.

Scaly Legs of the Caterpillar of the Gipsy Moth (Liparis Dispar)

Representation of the scaly legs of the Gipsy moth.

Membranous and fleshy legs.

Membranous Legs of Silkworm (Bombyx Mori)

Membranous and fleshy legs.

Representation of "the two membranous legs of a large caterpillar, of which the hooks of the feet are fastened into the branch of a shrub."

Membranous Legs of a Large Caterpillar Embracing a Twig

Representation of "the two membranous legs of a large caterpillar, of which the hooks of the feet are…

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet at full length, determines to walk, in order to take its first step it begins by humping its back, curving into an arch that part which has no legs, and finishes by [lying flat]"

Looper Caterpillar

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet…

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet at full length, determines to walk, in order to take its first step it begins by humping its back, curving into an arch that part which has no legs, and finishes by [lying flat]"

Looper Caterpillar Curved into an Arch

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet…

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet at full length, determines to walk, in order to take its first step it begins by humping its back, curving into an arch that part which has no legs, and finishes by [lying at full length]"

Looper Caterpillar at Full Length

"Represents the Looper caterpillar, with four membranous legs. If one of these caterpillars, lying quiet…

"Their attitudes deceive even the close observer; they embrace the stem of the leaf or twig with their hinder or intermediate legs, whilst the rest of their body, vertically elevated, remans stiff and immovable for hours together."

Caterpillar of the Canary-Shouldered Thorn

"Their attitudes deceive even the close observer; they embrace the stem of the leaf or twig with their…

"When the caterpillar wants to gnaw the edge of a leaf, it twists its body in such a way that at least one portion of the edge of the leaf is held between its legs, while the insect's jaws cut the leaf."

Looper Caterpillar Eating the Leaves of the Apricot (After Reaumur)

"When the caterpillar wants to gnaw the edge of a leaf, it twists its body in such a way that at least…

"They select some convenient spot, where they hang themselves up, head downward."

Caterpillars of the Small Tortoise-shell Butterfly (Vanessa Urticae) Undergoing Their Metamorphoses

"They select some convenient spot, where they hang themselves up, head downward."

"To set itself entirely free, the chrysalis alternately lengthens and shortens itself. The old skin gradually pushed upward, until it is considerably shortened."

Chrysalides of the Small Tortoise-shell Butterfly Freeing Themselves from the Caterpillar Skin

"To set itself entirely free, the chrysalis alternately lengthens and shortens itself. The old skin…

"Magnified, represents the chrysalis arrived a its final state, and suspended to a branch of a tree by the network of silk."

Chrysalis Divested of the Larva Skin

"Magnified, represents the chrysalis arrived a its final state, and suspended to a branch of a tree…

"Shows how the head advances over half the circumference of the circle which it has to describe, and secures the end of the thread against the support."

Caterpillars of the Cabbage-Butterfly

"Shows how the head advances over half the circumference of the circle which it has to describe, and…

The caterpillar is suspended by a band it weaves itself.

Caterpillars of the Pieris Brassicae

The caterpillar is suspended by a band it weaves itself.